Arkansas' Jake Wise (left) celebrates with teammate Joe Serrano (10) after hitting a solo home run against Kent State in the second inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game Saturday in Omaha, Neb. (ASSOCIATED PRESS / Eric Francis)

The combined 0-for-6 performance normally would signal trouble for an Arkansas lineup which had problems scoring runs throughout much of the 2012 season. It proved to be just an afterthought in an Arkansas rout Saturday.

While their top two hitters struggled, the rest of the lineup helped the Razorbacks roll to an 8-1 win against Kent State in the CWS opener for both teams in TD Ameritrade Park. Catcher Jake Wise led the Hogs at the plate by 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while designated hitter Joe Serrano went 3-for-3 with an RBI and outfielder Matt Vinson added a two-run double.

The eight runs were more than Arkansas (45-20) had scored in a postseason game this season. The 10 hits were the second-best effort. Together, it helped the Razorbacks jump into the winner’s bracket, where it will play South Carolina at 8 p.m. Monday. The Gamecocks beat Florida 7-3 in Saturday's late game.

Arkansas came to Omaha hitting .211 in the postseason and averaging three runs in six games. Its philosophy in regionals and super regionals was clear: Lean on a deep pitching staff, play solid defense, then find a way to scratch enough runs across the plate to survive.

It didn’t have any trouble against Kent State (46-19) and pitcher David Starn, enjoying a big day at the plate

Arkansas took advantage of the left-hander’s control issues in the first inning to score a run. Starn (11-4) walked three of the first four batters he faced, then allowed an RBI single to outfielder Brian Anderson.

Van Horn was concerned when his team left the bases loaded in the inning, but watched the Hogs extend the lead in the second when Wise hit a home run over the left-field fence.

The sophomore’s second home run of the year also was Arkansas’ first of the postseason. Outfielder Brian Anderson was the last Razorback to hit a home run, clubbing one in the regular season finale at Tennessee on May 19.

“I thought it was a double when I hit it,” said Wise, who also had the series-winning hit at Baylor last Monday. “I thought I hit it well, but thought it was a line drive.”

A week after being shelled in a loss at Baylor, Baxendale (8-5) baffled Kent State in 6 1/3 innings. He didn’t allow a hit through 4 2/3 innings and didn’t surrender a run until Jimmy Rider’s solo home run in the sixth.

It cut Arkansas’ lead to 3-1, but the Razorbacks gained a big cushion when Vinson hit a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-1.

“David Starn is an All-American and he’s given people fits all year,” Kent State coach Scott Stricklin said. “They had a really good approach. They got on base. They worked counts. They got ahead in the count and got clutch hits.”

Said Starn: “Arkansas is a great hitting team and they took advantage of the pitches I made mistakes on.”

Van Horn wasn’t completely surprised by the offensive outpouring, which was capped by a three-run eighth inning.

The Razorbacks faced what he described as two other “crafty” left-handers in the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas enjoyed reasonable success against both and it continued.

“Every now and then you’re going to have to score six, seven runs,” Van Horn said. “There’s not going to be a bunch of 2-1 games here, I don’t think. It just doesn’t seem like it. The hitting will start getting it going as the tournament gets going. But I feel confident about our team whatever the situation is just because of the games we’ve been in have been so close. But when we score runs like this it definitely boosts our confidence.”

The win equaled the 1979 team’s 10-3 win against Arizona as Arkansas’ largest margin of victory in the CWS. The Razorbacks hadn’t scored eight runs in an NCAA Tournament game since June 5, 2011, when they beat Charlotte 11-3.

It took some pressure off of the Razorbacks, too, guaranteeing Arkansas of at least two more games in Omaha with the next one providing an opportunity to take a big step toward reaching the championship series.

“If they play like that, they have a chance to win a national championship,” Strickland.

It’s a little premature to look that far ahead with a big test coming Monday. But there’s no doubt Arkansas, with its newfound success at the plate, is confident.

“If we pitch good again, obviously, and we swing the bats a little bit we feel like we can handle this bracket,” Van Horn said. “But we’ve got a long way to go.”

College World Series Notebook

It didn’t take long for Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn to realize DJ Baxendale was due for a big performance against Kent State.

He watched the junior paint the corner of the plate with his fastball in the first inning of the Razorbacks’ 8-1 win in TD Ameritrade Park.

“DJ was incredible,” Van Horn said. “He threw every fastball right where he wanted it in the first inning. That’s a telltale sign for him.”

Baxendale recovered from a rough outing at Baylor last week, helping the Razorbacks win their College World Series opener Saturday. He retired the first six batters faced, didn’t allow a hit through 4 2/3 innings and surrendered the only run — on a solo home run with two outs in the sixth.

It was a stark contrast from the Waco Super Regional opener, when Baxendale struggled to locate a fastball critical to his success on the mound.

He allowed a career-high three home runs against Baylor, throwing 95 pitches in just four innings of Arkansas’ 8-1 loss. It had the potential to be his final start of the season, too, something Baxendale dreaded while he watched the final two games.

“I really felt like I let the team down,” said Baxendale, who was relieved when Arkansas came from behind to win the super regional. “To come out here on this stage and be able to get us through game one with a victory, it was huge for not only my confidence, but I think for the team’s as well.”

Baxendale threw 94 pitches in 6 1/3 innings before turning the game over to reliever Brandon Moore and will be in the dugout watching Arkansas play its second game in Omaha on Monday night.

But his efficient performance in the opener means there’s a chance Baxendale could pitch again.

“Hopefully we’ll get him out there again before this is over with,” Van Horn said.

No Introductions Needed

Van Horn said he wouldn’t need any time scouting Arkansas’ next opponent whether it was South Carolina or Florida. The Razorbacks are very familiar with both Southeastern Conference foes.

“Pick your poison,” Van Horn said, when asked which team he’d rather face. “I’m not going to cheer for anybody. I don’t even know if I’m going to come back for the game. I’m going to watch it on TV. We know everything about each other.”

Arkansas was a combined 3-3 against the two teams this season. The Razorbacks won two of three at Florida, and lost two of three to South Carolina.

Twenty Straight

Baxendale extended the Arkansas pitching staff’s scoreless innings streak to 20 on Saturday, holding Kent State without a run until the sixth.

Shortstop Jimmy Rider ended the stretch with a two-out home run, which cut Arkansas’ lead to 3-1.

The Razorbacks’ streak stretched back to the second game at Baylor, when the Bears scored three runs in the fifth inning. The streak was pivotal in helping Arkansas reach the College World Series.

The Razorbacks have allowed one run or less in four of their seven NCAA Tournament games.

“We all know that pitching is what’s got them here,” Kent State coach Scott Stricklin said. “I know coach Van Horn is very fond of his pitching.”

Tear Continues

Arkansas designated hitter Joe Serrano continued his torrid pace at the plate Saturday, going 3-for-3 with an RBI against the Golden Flashes.

Serrano is hitting .588 (10 for 17) in NCAA Tournament games. The right-hander has only been in the lineup when the Razorbacks have faced left-handed pitchers, but Van Horn said he’s planning to start the freshman in every game of the CWS.

“He knows the strike zone. He’s a good bunter. And he’s been wearing out left-handed pitching,” Van Horn said. “His average has gone up probably 70, 80 points in the last 10 games because he’s getting two and three hits a game.

“It’s been a big part of us being here.”

Double Plays

Arkansas turned in its best offensive day of the postseason. But it could’ve been even better if Arkansas hadn’t grounded into four double plays.

Second baseman Bo Bigham was the first to hit into a double play, which came with the bases loaded in the first inning. Van Horn was afraid it would come back to haunt his team after managing just one run.

“We were disappointed we didn’t score more runs in the first,” Van Horn said. “We were like, ‘Oh, that might be a problem come later in the game.’”

Third baseman Matt Reynolds had a tougher day, hitting into three double plays. They came after Serrano singles in the third, fifth and seventh innings.

Which One?

Stricklin acknowledged his team faced a difficult situation after its loss to Arkansas. The Golden Flashes fell into Monday’s elimination game and, at the time, Stricklin said there was no good choice in the opponent it would face.

“We either play the number one team in the country or the two-time defending national champion,” Stricklin said of Florida and South Carolina.

“So we have a tough task ahead of us.”

Reaching No. 45

Arkansas won its 45th game Saturday, which is its most in a season since 2004. It also equals the Razorbacks’ highest win total under Van Horn.

The 45 wins ranks sixth on the school’s single-season list. Arkansas’ season high in wins is 51, which the Razorbacks accomplished three times (1985, 1987 and 1989).